Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

The Effects Of Footwear Longitudinal Bending Stiffness On The Energetics And Biomechanics Of Uphill Running, Justin Angelo Ortega

Masters Theses

There has been a prevalence of long-distance running footwear incorporating carbon-fiber plates within their midsoles, effectively increasing their longitudinal bending stiffness (LBS). This modification of modern racing footwear has occurred concurrently with large improvements in running times (Bermon et al., 2021), putting into question how these footwear components affect performance (Muniz-Pardos et al., 2021). The current literature has investigated this at level running, but with the increasing popularity of trail running, it is of interest to investigate whether the benefits found during level running translate to graded running. Therefore, the overall aim of this study was to investigate the effects …

Recovery Posture Post Hiit Exercise In The Active Population, Sydney Goll

Masters Theses

Introduction: By stimulating the sympathetic nervous system during a high intensity cycle HIIT workout, the effects of body posture on heart rate recovery can be recorded as the body is returning to a resting state. Purpose: The purpose of this study is to explore the physiology of recovery related to different body positions after high intensity exercise in order to account for the quickest recovery. Design: Original research. Methods: 18 healthy college aged individuals, 9 males, 8 females, mean age 21.7 ± 2.22, performed a submaximal HIIT workout on a cycle ergometer with a metabolic cart to record respiratory data. …

An Examination Of The Underutilization Of Mental Health Resources In Collegiate Student-Athletes, Kathleen Olivia Glover

Masters Theses

Previous and developing literature indicates that collegiate student-athletes, while more susceptible to psychological problems, are underutilizing mental health resources. This project examines the aforementioned problem through the use of extensive student-athlete mental health literature to identify themes that are affecting student-athlete’s likeliness of seeking psychological services. Throughout the themes, the need for additional support from student-athlete stakeholders is presented. A workshop series to guide increased mental health literacy in student-athlete stakeholders to create opportunities to recognize signs of mental illness and form cultures that encourage the utilization of psychological services is constructed. It is anticipated that by including stakeholders in …

Accelerometer-Determined Physical Behavior Metrics And Their Associations With Sarcopenia Among Oldest-Old Adults, Eric M. Eberl

Masters Theses

INTRODUCTION: Sarcopenia is a loss of muscle function and muscle mass which frequently occurs among the oldest-old adult population (aged 85+ years). The analysis of accelerometer-determined physical behavior volumes and patterns of oldest-old adults might provide novel insights into the associations with sarcopenia and its components. METHODS: A total of 145 participants in the primary sample and 87 participants in the subsample with a mean age of 88.2 (2.5) years from the Health, Aging, and Body Composition study cohort provided cross-sectional data of handgrip strength, appendicular lean mass, gait speed, and accelerometry. Probable, confirmed, and severe sarcopenia were assessed based …

A Descriptive Study On The Strike Characteristics Between A Heavy Bag, Focus Mitts, And Thai Pads, Tirzah Ruth Dacio Talampas

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to compare vGRFs during continuous strikes to three different modalities, a free-standing heavy bag, focus mitts, and Thai pads, and the punching velocities under these conditions. It was hypothesized for punches that punching velocity would be higher in punches thrown at a heavy bag, punching velocity would be faster in rear-hand punches, vGRFs would be higher in the lead leg compared to the rear leg of a punch at impact, and vGRFs would be higher in heavy bag punches compared to focus mitt punches. For kicks it was hypothesized that vGRFs of dominant and …

Effects Of Pre-Determined Barbell Hip Thrusting Surface Height On Motor Unit Recruitment And Activation Patterns, Abigail Renae Mccarty

Masters Theses

Several variations of the barbell hip thrust that manipulate stance width and resistance type rather than surface height to better isolate muscle groups that act as prime movers for the exercise have been previously researched. The purpose of this study was to identify the effects of hip thrusting surface heights on neuromuscular activity in the gluteus maximus (GM), vastus lateralis (VL), and biceps femoris (BF). Twelve averagely fit, resistance trained individuals were recruited for this study. Participants completed a dynamic warm-up followed by 10 repetition max (RM) testing of the barbell hip thrust. Prior to trials, root mean square (RMS) …

Effects Of Different Recovery Methods On Hangboard Performance In Rock Climbers: A Pilot Study, Daniel Tyler Ehrich

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to determine whether static stretching, dynamic shakes, or repeated contractions would promote the greatest retention in performance in hangboard training within a given period of time. Five volunteer intermediate climbers from the Liberty University rock climbing team were instructed to suspend themselves from a 20mm ledge on a hangboard until voluntary failure while time was recorded. After failure, subjects performed one of three different recovery methods and a control in randomized order for two minutes in alternating fifteen-second intervals. Upon finishing recovery, subjects would hang from the same ledge and have their time recorded …

Voluntary Hypoventilation At Low Lung Volume (Vhl) During Strength And Conditioning Training Increases Anaerobic Performance: A Pilot Study, Zachary Taylor Hundley

Masters Theses

To determine whether a VHL protocol implemented into an already existing strength and conditioning program could improve anaerobic conditioning more efficiently within the military population. Six active duty males completed a seven-week training cycle with VHL protocols implemented on each training day (2-4 days/week). Before (Pre) and after (Post) protocol implementation, the participants performed a multi-stage 20-m shuttle run test (MSRT). After incorporating VHL, participants significantly improved their MRST scores by an average of 50.3%. Additionally, Body Oxygen Level Test (BOLT) scores were improved across the duration of the study. This study showed employing VHL can improve anaerobic performance in …

Head-Trunk Coordination And Coordination Variability During Anticipated And Unanticipated Sidestepping, Sam Zeff

Masters Theses

INTRODUCTION: Sensory systems within the head provide us with rich perceptual information and may require complex control of the head during locomotion when changing direction. Head position in space is maintained by head on trunk motion as well as lower extremity kinematic modifications, such as increased knee flexion and increased stance time in order to facilitate shock attenuation and reduce vertical CoM displacement. It has been established that the body organizes its degrees of freedom of the trunk, pelvis and lower extremities differently during anticipated and unanticipated sidestepping, which raises the question of how these modifications affect head control during …

Cadence As An Indicator Of The Walk-To-Run Transition, Colleen Chase

Masters Theses

Humans naturally select a point at which to transition from walking to running when gradually increasing locomotor speed. This point is known as the walk-to-run transition (WRT). The WRT is traditionally expressed in terms of speed and is known to occur within a close range of 2.1 m/s, which is an accepted heuristic (i.e., empirically based, rounded) threshold value. Very little research exists defining the WRT in terms of cadence (steps/min) despite the fact that spatial temporal aspects of gait underlying the WRT include this parameter. Preliminary evidence suggests that the WRT may be associated with a cadence of 140 …

A Comparison Of Vertical Ground Reaction Forces In Single-Leg Jump Take-Offs And Double-Leg Jump Take-Offs In Indoor Collegiate Volleyball Players, Margaret Elisabeth Latchford, Maggie Mcdermott, Austin Deshner, Moroni De Moors, Will W. Peveler

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to determine if differences in vertical ground reaction forces (vGRFs) exist between single-leg take-off approaches (SL) and double-leg take-off approaches (DL) and if sex or positional differences existed in vGRFs in SL- or DL-style approaches. It was hypothesized that DL jumps would generate greater vGRFs, males would generate greater vGRFs in both styles, and middle blockers would have higher SL vGRFs while pin hitters would have higher DL vGRFs. Nine collegiate volleyball players (4 female; 5 male) (age: 20.44 ± 1.42 years; height: 186.02 ± 6.44 cm; body mass: 78.21 ± 10.63kg; body fat: …

Lower Limb Force Asymmetries During Landing And Jumping Exercises, Simon Cone

Masters Theses

Significant asymmetries can exist between the lower limbs’ force production during the take-off phase of bilateral jumping exercises. Some studies have indicated that similar asymmetries can exist during the landing phase as well. It has not been demonstrated if the magnitude and/or direction of this imbalance is alike during the landing (L) and take-off (TO) phase of a jumping exercises. The main purpose of this study was to determine if there is a difference in the asymmetry that occurs during the L and TO phases. In order to quantify the degree and describe the direction (left. vs. right) of the …

Interval Training Using The Lactate Retention Method: A Pilot Study, Tyler M. Dundore

Masters Theses

Interval training (IT) is used to improve aerobic capacity and increase tolerance to lactate. Few studies to date have focused on trapping lactate in the muscles during recovery periods of IT, a method called “lactate retention”, or LR. PURPOSE: To determine if LR can produce greater improvements in lactate threshold (LT) and a faster rate of change in blood lactate concentration ([rΔBL]) compared to IT with active recovery (AR). METHODS: Ten cross-trained subjects (age 23.3 ± 4.7 years) participated; each came to the lab twice per week for the duration of the study. Visit 1 included an LT test to …

Single Sport Specialization: Ncaa Di Collegiate Student Athlete Perceptions, Jordyn Blood

Masters Theses

This study seeks to understand the experience and perception of current, NCAA DI athletes with regard to sport specialization. By learning more about their level of specialization prior to their life as an NCAA DI athlete, as well as their perception on the importance of specialization, this study seeks to contribute to the growing body of literature in sport specialization. Specifically, this study will help inform aspiring athletes, coaches and parents about the role and perceptions of sport specialization in today's elite level athlete. Using paper surveys, the perceptions of 138 current 2019-2020 season NCAA DI athletes at a mid-major …

Impact Of Footwear On Mechanisms Of Knee Osteoarthritis Progression, Ethan Steiner

Masters Theses

Knee osteoarthritis (OA) is a debilitating disease affecting the entire knee joint by inducing pathological changes to the cartilage and menisci. Currently, the etiology of OA is not completely understood. However, altered gait mechanics, specifically increased joint loading, of OA patients have a clear association with both symptomatic and structural OA progression. Non-surgical intervention tools, such as variable stiffness shoes (VSS), have been developed as a way to decrease loading within the knee joint. However, with external moments being surrogate measures for knee loading, it is unclear if changes in knee moments with the footwear are sufficient to result in …

A Content Analysis Of Sports Illustrated’S Portrayal Of Female Athletes And Its Impact On Society, Britney Murray

Masters Theses

This study utilizes a content analysis of Sports Illustrated covers from 1954-2016 to evaluate the amount and type of coverage permitted to female athletes through this source of print media. The covers were critiqued for both quantity and quality as it relates to the coverage afforded to female athletes and how it differs from the coverage of male athletes. The results from this study provide a foundation for those who wish to further explore and raise awareness on the issue of underrepresentation and misrepresentation of female athletes in sports media.

The Effects Of Two Different Sports Drinks On Rpe And Finishing Speed Of An Endurance Run In Highly Trained Distance Runners, Matthew J. Feldhake

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of a protein-containing sport drink with a traditional non-protein sport drink has on ratings of perceived exertion (RPE) and finishing speed of an half marathon. Of the possible factors that would support including protein in a sport drink the primary one was its inhibitory effect on serotonin release in the brain. This could help attenuate perceived exertion, thus allowing individuals to compete at a higher level for longer durations (Davis, Alderson, & Welsh, 2000).

This study was conducted using nine members of the Eastern Illinois University Men's Cross Country team. …

The Leadership Of John Wooden, Drew Waters

Masters Theses

John Wooden, former coach of the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) men’s basketball team, has won twice as many championships as the next most successful men’s collegiate basketball coach. This paper will examine the methods he used in his coaching, his leadership style, and how it compares with various leadership styles of other famous coaches and leaders, and other possible factors which may have led to his achieving such a high level of success. A thorough review of a wide variety of literature has been incorporated in the thesis, as well as a study comparing Wooden’s leadership style with …

Kinematic Analysis Of Trunk Coordination Throughout The Rowing Stroke Sequence, Mcdaragh Rose Minnock

Masters Theses

Rowing at the elite level requires proper sequencing of the rowing stroke so that the rower is able to produce an efficient stroke while protecting oneself from potential injuries. The cyclic motion of the rowing stroke sequence at low loads often results in overuse injuries, specifically in the lower back. Kinematic data of rower’s pelvis-lumbar-thoracic spine were collected using inertial measurement sensors. An incremental step-test was conducted to observe the influence of increasing intensities on the lumbar-pelvis and lumbar-thoracic segments coordination and coordination variability. This study provides a new way of quantifying rowing kinematics using vector coding. The vector coding …

Effects Of A Raised Surface On Lower Extremity Kinematics, Kinetics, And Muscle Activation During A Sidecut In Recreational Female Softball Players, Lauren Elizabeth Schroeder

Masters Theses

Noncontact anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury is a common sports-related injury. “High-risk” dynamic movements, such as a sidecut, have been associated with increasing the risk of noncontact ACL injury. Certain biomechanical abnormalities, specifically at the hip and knee, and neuromuscular abnormalities, such as unbalanced quadriceps-to-hamstrings activation ratios and certain activation patterns prior to initial contact and after initial contact, have also been associated with an increased likelihood of noncontact ACL injuries occurring. Approximately 78% of all NCAA Division I softball game-day injuries are classified as noncontact where there is no direct contact to a player. Internal derangement of the knee …

The Influence Of Different Pre-Exercise Routines On Sprint Performance, Rok Mravljak

Masters Theses

Sprint performance can be enhanced by interventions for short-term (acute) purposes and/or long-term purposes. Acute neuromuscular responses are usually achieved by using different pre-exercise routines at the end of the warm-up period. Recently, there have been several studies examining the effects of various pre-exercise routines on sprint performance, yet there has not been a research study designed that compared the three most commonly used pre-exercise routines in professional and recreational sports (static stretching, dynamic stretching and foam-rolling). Therefore, this study investigated and compared the results of static stretching, dynamic stretching, self-myofascial release and the control group, in order to provide …

Effect Of Listening To Music During Warmup On Wingate Anaerobic Test Performance, Russell P. Fox

Masters Theses

The primary purpose of this study was to determine whether or not different music conditions would affect performance on the Wingate anaerobic test. We also sought to explore the effect of music on psychological variables such as, rating of perceived exertion (RPE).

16 subject (8 males, 8 females) listened to either pre-selected music, self-selected music or white noise during a 10-minute warmup, cycling at 50 Rev.min-1 for 10 minutes with a light resistance of one kilogram. Once the warmup was completed they performed a Wingate Anaerobic test against a resistance of 7.5% of their body mass in kilograms.

There were …

Ethics With Regard To Compensation And Current Ncaa Policy, Tyler Mcbride

Masters Theses

The purpose of this research is to analyze former NCAA Division I football players’ ethical perceptions of current NCAA policy, specifically concerning regulations governing compensation of the student athlete. This quantitative research study collected data using a 20-question survey instrument composed of demographic and Likert type questions. Statistical analysis determined the data failed to establish a statistically significant behavioral trend arguing either for or against current policies. However, data revealed a statistical difference between the opinions expressed by Caucasian alumni as compared to those of other ethnicities. The purpose of this study was to expose illegitimate processes within the NCAA …

The Effect Of Luck On The Retention Of Head Coaches In The Nfl, Alexander Steen

Masters Theses

his investigation considers the impact of the concept of luck on coaching retention in the National Football League (NFL). The head coach of an NFL team is often under intense scrutiny to perform in a high profile position. Due to a small inventory of games each season, there is the potential for luck to influence whether or not a season is viewed a success. This study seeks to measure the impact of luck for a given NFL team while attempting to correlate with the retention or release of the head coach.

Gait Changes During Exhaustive Running, Nathaniel I. Smith

Masters Theses

Runners adopt altered gait patterns as they fatigue which may increase energy expenditure and susceptibility to certain overuse injuries. Previous investigations have described changes in muscle performance and kinematic gait variables resulting from running fatigue. The purpose of this investigation was to characterize changes in joint moment patterns that develop as runners fatigue in order to better understand the kinetic bases for kinematic fatigue effects. It was hypothesized that when fatigued, runners would demonstrate increases in stance time, peak stance phase knee flexion angle, peak knee extension moment, peak swing phase hip flexion moment, and hip extension and plantarflexion angular …

Effect Of A 7-Week Rock Climbing Class On Physical Fitness And Performance, Justin Scott Cargo

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to assess changes in physical fitness and performance by rock climbing twice a week over a 7-week time period. Rock climbing is on the rise in popularity as seen in the rise of indoor climbing gyms and the increase in rock climbing competitions (Wall, C. B., Starek, J. E., Fleck, S. J., & Byrnes, W. C., 2004). Notably, the International Federation of Sport Climbing has held the Climbing World Championships biennially since the first event in 1991 (Schoffl, Burtscher, & Coscia, 2013), which emphasizes the importance of this research to apply to training programs. …

The Effects Of Kinesio Tape On Sports Performance: Vertical Jump And Shuttle Run Performance In Women's College Basketball Players, Holly Wohltman

Masters Theses

Introduction: Since Kinesio tape (KT tape) was invented in the mid-1970s, studies have been lacking in producing strong evidence to support the claims of its ability to enhance performance. The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of KT tape at enhancing sports performance, in the areas of vertical jump and shuttle run performance, in Illinois College Women's Basketball Team, participants ranged from 19-22 years of age.

Methods: There were eleven female basketball players ranging from the ages 19-22 years were recruited to participate in this study. All participants performed a vertical jump test and a shuttle run …

Does Footfall Pattern In Forefoot Runners Change Over A Prolonged Run?, Carl W. Jewell

Masters Theses

There has been much debate on the benefits of a forefoot versus rearfoot strike pattern in distance running in terms of performance and injury prevalence. Shock attenuation occurs more prominently in soft tissues at impact in forefoot runners compared to the passive skeletal loading in rearfoot runners. Recent studies indicate that a forefoot strike pattern may not be maintainable over long distance efforts. Therefore, this study tested the hypothesis that habitual forefoot runners could not maintain their strike pattern throughout a prolonged, intensive run.

Fourteen forefoot runners ran to voluntary exhaustion on an instrumented force treadmill (average run duration: 15.4±2.2 …

Kinetic Asymmetries During Submaximal And Maximal Speed Running, Devon H. Frayne

Masters Theses

An important issue for sports scientists, coaches and athletes is an understanding of the factors within a running stride that can enhance or limit maximal running speed. Previous research has identified many sprint-related parameters as potential kinetic limiters of maximal Center of Mass velocity (Chapman and Caldwell, 1983b; Weyand et al., 2001). Bilateral asymmetry is present for many of these parameters during running; however the degree to which such asymmetries change as running speed increases is unknown. It was hypothesized that asymmetries in key sprinting parameters would be larger at maximal speed than all other tested speeds. Kinematics and kinetics …

Comparison Of Dual- And Tri-Axial Accelerometer Accuracy, Lindsay Powell Toth

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to investigate the accuracy of the Omron HJ-720ITC and the Fitbit Zip activity monitors with regard to step count, energy expenditure, and distance traveled measurements. The importance of this research rests in the success rates of pedometer-based physical activity interventions which have been shown to increase physical activity while also enabling weight loss and lowering blood pressure in the adult population. Activity monitors available for retail sale must be found accurate for proper participation in exercise interventions especially low-cost devices as used in this study.

In order to test the accuracy of the Omron …